Hosiery mending device



H. G. MAYER HOSIERY MENDING DEVICE Jan, 14, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 20, 1955 INVENTOR:

ATTORNEYS Jan. 14, 1958 H. G. MAYER 2,819,598

HOSIERY MENDING DEVICE Filed June 20, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR:

HENRY G. MAY-E12 ATTORNEYS 2,819,598 HOSKERY MENDING DEVICE Henry G. Mayer, Athens, Ga.

Application June 20, 1955, Serial No. 516,589

13 Claims. (Cl. 661) This invention relates to hosiery mending devices and, more especially, to an improved apparatus for restoring to original condition an area of a knitted fabric in which one or more of the loops thereof has accidentally become abnormally enlarged. 1

There are various types of devices currently in use for restoring to original condition a knitted fabric, one or more loops of which have become enlarged and adjacent loops reduced. One type of such device comprises a circular series of work-engaging elements which curve outwardly from a common rotating hub. In order that such a device may operate satisfactorily, it is necessary that the outer ends of the work-engaging elements, which are necessarily relatively small or nearly pointed, are arranged so they will travel in a nearly perfect circular path and it is necessary that they be rotated during use in a circular direction opposite from the direction toward which they are curved. Accordingly, this type of device has to be made especially for a right-handed or lefthanded operator, or it is necessary that the hub with the circularly arranged work-engaging elements thereon be removed from its supporting shaft and turned around so that the curved free ends of the work-engaging elements extend in the opposite direction and it is also then necessary that a reversible driving means be provided therefor so that the device may be reversibly rotated when used by a left-handed operator as compared to when it is used by a right-handed operator.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for restoring to original condition a knitted fabric, one or more loops of which has become enlarged and adjacent loops reduced, which may be used by either a right-handed or left-handed operator.

It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus of the character described which is compact, self-contained, easily operated and maintained.

It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus of the character described comprising a single work engaging element made from a thin relatively broad fiat band of rigid material and having a sharpened substantially V-shaped working end with means for driving the operating end of the work-engaging element in an oscillatable manner and in an elliptical path.

It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus of the character last described wherein means are provided for adjustably varying the stroke of the operating end of the work-engaging element; that is, varying the size of the elliptical path through which the i operating end of the work-engaging element passes with reciprocation thereof. It is still another object of this invention to provid an apparatus of the character described including a hol-- low handle for supporting a rotatable hub to which a medial portion of the work-engaging element is pivotally connected with the end of the work engaging element opposite from the operating end thereof being slotted and guided on a guide element also carried by the handle. a

Three forms of the invention are disclosed herein, one

ice

form of which has an electric motor disposed within the handle for driving the hub to which the medial portion of the work-engaging element is pivotally connected and in another form of which the handle has a housing connected to the end thereof remote from the work-engaging element and within which an electric motor is mounted with a shaft extending from the electric motor axially through the handle and having the hub fixed on the other end thereof and being driven by the electric motor.

The third form of the invention has a work-engaging element whose operating end reciprocates in an arcuate path only, while, in the other two forms, the operating end of the work-engaging element reciprocates in both an arcuate path and an elliptical path.

It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus of the character described wherein the electric motor is a reversible motor and wherein means are provided for effecting rotation of the shaft of the electric motor in either direction, as desired.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of one form of the inven tion;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinally vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 in Figure l and show ing, somewhat schematically, an electrical circuit for the motor;

Figure 4 is a front end view of the device taken on the left-hand side of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged elevation, partially in section, taken substantially along the line 5-5 in Figure 2 and showing the rotor or hub to which a medial portion of the work-engaging element is pivotally connected;

Figure 6 is a somewhat schematic view of the workengaging element showing, in broken lines, various positions occupied by the work-engaging element during the course of movement thereof;

Figure 7 is a schematic view indicating the relative path followed by the pivotal connection between the work-engaging element and the rotor or hub and the operating end of the work-engaging element;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of another form of the improved hosiery mending device;

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the hosiery mending device shown in Figure 8; i

Figure 10 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the second form of the hosiery mending device taken substantially along line 1010 in Figure 8 and, showing schematically, a circuit for controlling the flow of current to the electric motor;

Figure 11 is a front end elevation of the second form of hosiery mending device looking at the left-hand side of Figure 9;

Figure 12 is an enlarged elevation similar to Figure. 5, but taken substantially along line 12.12 in Figure 9;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to the left-hand portion of Figure 3 embodying still another form of the invention;

Figure 14 is a front end view looking at the left-hand side of Figure 13.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the form of hosiery mending device shown in Figure 1 through 7 comprises a hollow body or housing broadly designated at it) which is conveniently shaped so as to serve as-a handle for the operator. The body 10 is of generally tubular construction and its rear portion is provided with a longitudinallyextending bore ,1] lhClCll'liWhiChlS closed at its rear end by a rear cap member 12. The front end potit'ionsoftthe bodycr handle is suitablyrecessed, as at 13, for reception of a relatively small reversible electric motor 14 which may be secured in the recessed portion 13 of the body 10 bytany suitable means such as a prcssed fit. Ihe -electr-ic rnotor 14 isgpreferahly of a type such-:as-isnsed -in-toyelectric trainsand suchaas: .is manufactured by Pittman vElectricaLDeveloprnenfl10m- .pany, -Sellersville, Pa., --under their modellNo. DC7 IA. The front end ofthe housingor 'body 10 -ispantiallyt closed by a relatively thin-disk segment which fitssnugly Iin an annular recess :22 formedinhthea front end of the :handle or body-10. v g h The -shaftof-the electric motor 1'4. is' indicatedat 21 and extends-forwardly beyond the front end ofl the body -or-hand1e 10 andehas-ta hub member or rotor 23 fined thereon, the reduced rear-portion of which loosely fits Min a bore'24 formed in thedisk segment 20.

The handle or body" 10 is preferably-made. fromfiailight weight -material,such as wood,- plastic, aluminum :on the --like, and'-the front end-portion thereof ihas a bracket.26 suitably securedthereto, forwardly from which a-re'lativelysmall rigid-guide elementon pin 27 projects. i'l'she forward portion of the-guide element 27.-loosely. penetrates aslot 30in one end portion ota-work-engaginglelement broadly designated ata31. The work-engagingelement -31 is-preferably-made from-steel orotherrigid material, in the form of a flat relatively elongated plate which is necessari-ly substantially longer than thediameter of the corresponding end of the handle or body10 so the operating or working end oftheworkaengaging element 31 always projects beyond the corresponding edge portion -Ofthe-hand1e or body 10.

The operating end of the work-engaging element 31 is pointedor substantially V-shaped as indiiatedat32 and the front and rear edges of the operating en cl 32of the work-engaging element 31 are preferably uniformly beveled, as at 33. to provide arelativelysharp edge-to the -V-shaped' operating end of the work-engaging elemen! 31.

The frontend of the rotor or hub 23-is provided with a plurality of threaded holes therein which/are-lspaced varying' distances from the axis of the rotor or-hub 23. Thereat'ethree such threaded holesshown in Figures-4 and '5 indicated at 35, 36 and 37. =Depending uponthe length of stroke of the work-=engaging element 31 desired by the operator, -a'- shoulder -screw-may be threadedn'into any one of'thethreaded holes f36, 37, orta shouldered :pinmay: be pressed: into :any one of the holes 35, 36, 37. In this instance a-tshoulder-screw 40"is-shown as being threaded into the-hole 35. IA medial portion ot -the workengaging element 31 is pivo'tally mounted on theshoulder screw-40=anda washer- 41 -is;preferably provided between the proximal surfaces of the work+engagingelement-=and ethehub -or"rotor 23a=in order top-permit fireedom offlrelantive movement between'the hub or rotor: 23- and the -workenga'ging element' 31.

'Theelectric motor 14' has apair of 'wires orconductors 44, 45 leading rearwardlyxtherefrom.ithrough a relatively small-bore or opening 46: formedrin the rear cap 12. :The wires 44, 45 are preferably supported in the opening 46 by means of a grommet 47. The wires 44, 45'extend into=a switch housing-shown in broken lines in Figure 3'and indicated at 50 ancl'which housing has a double- 'pole double-throw switch 51 therein which is manually 'controlle'd to, at times, establish contact between' the wires 44, 45 and respective wires orconductors 52, 53 and which,'= at-.othertimesj isada'pted' to establish contact be tween a pair of wires or conductors 54, 55 and therespective Wires-:orconductors-252,153. The" ends of the wir'es or conductorsi54, 55 remote. from-the switch 51 aarerconneeteddoi medial-portions of' the respective" wi'res 144, 45, D'Dhe en'ds :ntithe wires'52,f-53 remote' fro'm the switeh s are eonn'ected to oppnsi'te ends of the secondiary winning one :transtormen 56;: from" oppositeiend's of he primary windinig of which aupair ot lead' wires or conductors'57, '58 lead to a plug 59 adapted to be'connected to a suitable source of alternating current, not shown.

It is apparent that, when the switch 51 establishes contact between the conductors 44, 45 and respective conductors 52, 53, this causes the shaft 21 of motor 14 to rotate in one direction, say, in a counterclockwise direction in Figures 4 and 5. On the other hand, when the switch 51 establishes contact between the conductors 54, 55 and respective conductors 52, 53, the rotor 23 is driven in aclockwise 'direction'in Figures 4 and 5.

In operation, the operator moves the hosiery mending device toward theoperator and, if the operator is righthandedythe rotor will'berotating in=a counterclockwise direction while, on the other hand, if the operator is left-handed, the rotor'willbe 'rotating in a clockwise direction in Figure 4. It will be noted that, in either event, the free end or operating end of the blade or workengaging element 31 moves in an elliptical path in which the working stroke thereof, passesthrough an arc foffmovementof -a relatively large-radiuain the course of which titfstrikes and then momentarily slides against the row "of vstitches -of'the: portion of E a hose having a relatively large loop therein adjacent which abnormally'smallloops are :snresent.

As the operatorjgui'des the *workengaging elementalong thez'adjacent pulled" t-hrcad'i-n :a stocking, therelatively ashortwstrokerof the blade or'work-engaging element 314s rrsuoh astovavoid unnecessary roughingof the fabric' while, on thexvother hand,ithe work-engaging element rapidly de- -'livers2-a"series of light blows and subsequentsliding movements tagainstithe shortened reachestof each oftthe-re- :duce'd loops adjacent an'abnormally long loop to thereby causesome-rnaterial to be withdrawn from an adjacent -lo'opz'andadded -to:the reduced loop thus contacted. Of course, that area Qf-the'fabric which includes the pulled and-reduced loopsxis maintained under light tension idur- -'ing the mending operation.

This portion of the'tabric is usually stretchedr'overfla iso-called mending cup and mending cups are usuallyi'of i're'lativelysmall convenient 'size and, accordingly, the sh'oi't -stroke'of the improved mending apparatus providesmore working spaceion a cup of a given-size-wi'thout: damaging lthe work by the blade or work-engaging 'element'31' touching the edges'ot the cup. This has beenone diflicultyrem countered with the types ofsmending devices having2a.'circular series of .curved prongs or work-engaging elements athereon. .Also, since ar'singleiblade or workeengagingzele- -mentis "usedyit is apparent: that this obviates thenecessity "of carefullyvalining :the operating ends of -a :plurality of work engaging: e'lements which: are circularly iarra'nged as .has heretoforea been the case.

Thefpointed operating endl 3250f the 'work-engagingielevInent'3l engages-such a relativelysmallarea of the work as to insure 'that on'ly a very'fewiioops *need be -engaged iltherebyadurin'g the: courserof: restoration ofan abnormally r-large loop to iitsfnormal size and "thereby avoids distorting loops which have not been pulled: or loosened. Also, tthe? beveled pointed operating -end -32 of the work-engaging element 31::is soshapediasto insure that it will'not' engage oriensnare theyarn in' a pulled loop and cause it to :break, which difiicu'ltyi'has'been'encountered in using other types of hosiery mending'rdevices. Itis also much simpler for 'theroperator towmaintain the single-pointed end '32 of the operating element 31in properalinementwith thecourse "of the knitted' fabric than would be 'thecase if circularly arranged elements were used. -'Of course, the *sharpene'd operating fend 32 of F element-31 is 'necessarily of lesser thickness than the width of a course'of knit fabric.

Second'form of hosiery mending device -*In F-ig uresr8f through :-12 there-issshownaa second form sofa-hosiery mending device which: is similar to'the formcof hosiery mending device shown1 in Figures :1 *throu'gh'fi. Accordingly, those :partss shown in Figures *8 throughdZ which are substantially the same "or identical toccorreasia'ses sponding pafts shown in Figures 1 through 7 will bear the same reference characters with the prime notation added to avoid repetitive description.

The form of the invention shown in Figures 8 through 12 differs primarily from the form shown in Figures 1. through 7 in that the motor is mounted in a housing removably attached to the rear end of the handle or body of the device. To this end, the body of the device shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10 has a longitudinally extending bore 60 therein, opposite ends of which have mounted therein a pair of bushings or bearings 61, 62. A drive shaft 63 is journaled in the bearings 61, 62 and extends forwardly therefrom and has the hub or rotor 23 fixed thereon. The rear end of the body 10' has a reduced tubular threaded portion 65 thereon which is threaded through one wall of a motor housing 66, thus securing the motor housing on the reduced threaded portion 65 of the body 10'.

The motor housing 66 may be of a foraminated material or may be suitably perforated to permit air to flow past a reversible electric motor 67 snugly positioned within the housing 66. The electric motor 67 has a threaded shaft '70 thereon which is coupled to the rear end of the drive shaft 63 by means of a threaded sleeve 71. It is thus seen that the electric motor 67 and the housing 66 may be readily detached from the body 10' and one end of a flexible shaft, driven by a suitalbe motor, may be coupled to the rear end of drive shaft 63 in lieu of the electric motor 67, if desired.

The electric motor 67 also has a pair of conductors or wires 44', 45 leading therefrom which extend through the rear wall of the housing 67 and are connected in a circuit identical to the circuit shown in Figure 3 and the parts of which shall bear the same reference characters as like parts shown in Figure 3 with the prime notation added to avoid repetitive description.

Third form 01 hosiery mending device In Figures 13 and 14 there is shown a third form of hosiery mending device which is also similar to the first and second forms of devices shown in Figures 1 through 7 and 8 through 12, respectively. The third form of hosiery mending device differs from the first and second forms only in the particular structure of the blade or workengaging element. It will be apparent, as the description proceeds, that the form of blade or work-engaging element shown in Figures 13 and 14 may be readily substituted for the blades 31, 31' in the forms of the invention shown in either Figures 1 through 7 or Figures 8 through 12. In this instance, the blade or work-engaging element is shown in Figures 13 and 14 as though applied to the form of apparatus disclosed in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Accordingly, the structure shown in Figures 13 and 14 which is identical to that shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 will bear the same reference characters with the exception of the blade or work-engaging element which, in Figures 13 and 14, is broadly designated at 75.

Generally, the blade or work-engaging element '75 is of substantially the same configuration as the blades 31 and 31' in that it is made from steel or other rigid material in the form of a fiat relatively elongated plate which is necessarily substantially longer than the diameter of the corresponding end of the handle or body 10 so the operating or working end of the work-engaging element 75 always projects beyond the corresponding edge portion of the handle or body 10. As in the previously described forms of the invention, the operating end of the workengaging element 75 is pointed or substantially V-shaped, as indicated at 76. and the front and rear or inner and outer edges of the operating end 76 of the work-engaging element 75 are preferably uniformly beveled, as at 77, to provide a relatively sharp edge to the V-shaped operat ing end of the work-engaging element 75 and so that the y-shaped operating end 76 of the work-engaging element 75 is of lesser thickness than the width of a course of knit fabric.

Instead of being provided with a slot in the upper portion of the blade or work-engaging element 75, it will be noted that the rounded free end of the guide element 27 serves as a pivot shaft or pin on which the upper portion of the work-engaging element 75; that is, that portion thereof remote from the operating end 76 thereof, is pivotally mounted. On the other hand, the medial portion of the work-engaging element 75 is not pivotally connected to the hub member or rotor 23, as in the first and second forms of the invention, but, instead, the medial portion of the blade or work-engaging element 75' is providedwith a longitudinally extending slot 80 therein which is loosely penetrated by the shoulder screw 40. The slot 30 is necessarily so located and of such length as to permit rotation of the shoulder screw 40 with the rotor 23 relative to the blade 75 in Figures 13 and 14.

It is thus seen that rotation of the rotor or hub member 23 and the shoulder screw 40 in either direction in Figure 14 will reciprocate the operating end 76 of the work-engaging element or blade 75 only in an arcuate path as opposed to the elliptical path through which the operating ends of the blades 31 and 31 pass during the course of reciprocation thereof (Figure 7).

The third form of invention shown in Figures 13 and 14 is used in the same manner as the first and second forms of the invention, it being noted that the blade and the handle which supports the device are generally moved toward the operator during the actual operation of restoring pulled threads in knitted fabric.

It is thus seen that I have provided three forms of an improved hosiery mending device which are simply and economically constructed and which are of relatively small light-weight construction so they may be carried in a ladys handbag, for example, and which can be used in an automobile or in ones home as well as being used in a commercial hosiery manufacturing plant. It should be noted that in each form of the invention, since the motor is positioned in or on the handle, it provides sufficient weight to the device so that the heart-beat or a slight nervous condition of the operator will not affect the operators hand and will thereby assist the operator in maintaining the work-engaging element of the corresponding hosiery mending device in alinement with the correspoding course of the fabric.

In the drawings and specification there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims. r

I claim: p

1. Apparatus for restorig pulled threads in knitted fabric comprising, in combination, a shaft adapted to be rotated about its longitudinal axis, a hub fixed on said shaft and rotatable therewith, a flat relatively thin elongated blade pivotally mounted on the outer end of said hub in eccentric relation to the axis thereof, one end of said blade being substantially pointed and the other end thereof having a longitudinally extending slot therein, means supporting said shaft for rotation therein, and a guide element carried by said means and extending through said slot whereby rotation of said hub transmits reciprocatory movement to the pointed end of said blade about a substantially elliptical path.

2. Apparatus for restoring pulled threads in knitted fabric comprising, in combination, a shaft adapted to be rotated about its longitudinal axis, a hub fixed on said shaft and rotatable therewith, a blade pivotally mounted on the outer end of said hub in eccentric relation to the axis thereof, one end of said element being substantially pointed and the other end thereof having a longitudinally extending slot therein, means supporting said shaft for rotation therein, and a guide element carried by said means and extending through said slot whereby rotation o'fsa-id "hub transmits reciprocatory movement to the poiEted end of said element about a substantially elliptical "pat 3. A structureaccording to'claim 2 wherein'the blade is pivotally connected to a medial portion of the'hub by means of a shoulder screw adapted to loosely penetrate a medial portion of said blade, and the outer end of said hub'having a plurality of threaded holes therein spaced varying distances from the axis of the hub whereby the :shoulder'screw may be engaged with any one of the threaded holes to correspondingly permit variations in the size of-the elliptical path of movement of the pointed end of the blade.

4. Apparatus for restoring pulled threads in knitted fabric comprising, in combination, a shaft adapted to be rotated aboutits longitudinal axis, a hub fixed on said shaft and rotatable therewith, a blade pivotally mounted on the outer end of said'hubin eccentric relation to the axis thereof, means supporting said shaft for rotation therein, and a guide element carried by said means and engaging one end portion of said blade whereby rotation of said hub'transmits reciprocatory movement to the other end-of said blade about'a substantially elliptical path.

5. Apparatus for restoring pulled threads in knitted fabric comprising an elongated body member, a shaft projecting from oneend of said body member, an electric motor carriedby said body member for imparting rotation'to'sai'dshaft, a hub fixed on said shaft, a blade hav- -'ing 'a medial portion thereof pivotally connected'to the outer end of saidhub in olf-center relation thereto,-one end of said blade having a relatively sharp work-engaging surface thereon, and means for guiding the portion of said blade remote from the "end thereof having the workengaging surface thereon at a point spaced radially from the axisof the'hub whereby rotation of said hub imparts substantially elliptical" movement to the end of i theblade having the work enga'ging surfacethereon.

6. Astructure according to claim wherein said' shaft 'is journaled in'and extends longitudinally of said'body member, a housing removably' securedto the end of said body member-remote from'said'hub, an electric-motor in said housing, and'the said-electric motor being coupled to the Shaft.

7. 'A' structure according toclaim 5 wherein said body 'menrber is hollow 'and'said motor is fixed within said body member.

8. :A- stmcture according to'elaim 7 wherein said motor is of the reversible 'type,-and "adouble throw switch interposedi-n an electrical circuit to' said motor for energizing the'motor"for'rotation'of said shaft in either direction.

9.Apparatusfor restoiing pulledthreads in knitted fabric comprising, in combination, a shaft adapted'to be .rotated about its longitudinal axis, ahub fixed on :said

shaft and rotatable therewith, a fiat relatively thin elonzgatedblade,;means loosely .connecting amedial portion of said iblade .to z the' 'outer :endnoflsaid hub in eccentric relation to the axis thereohoneendofr said blade being substantially .pointed, means supporting vsaid shaft for rotation therein 'anda .guide element carried by-saidt lastnamed meansfan'd -loosely penetratingsaid blade at-a point *remote fromzthe .pointed end'thereof for restraining the .correspondingportion of said blade from rotation relative to thezmeanssupportingsaid shaft vand'whereby rotation 16f :said :hub transmits .reciprocatory movement to .the

pointed-end: of said blade.

10. Apparatus for t restoring pulled threads in knitted 'fabricwomprising, in combinatiomalshaft adapted to be -rotated:.aboutsits longitudinal axis, a"hub fixedionisaid shaftand rotatable there-with,-means-supporting saidshaft for rotation therein, a; guide'elementcarried by-said means and extending outwardly therefrom, a blade having'one element-being substantiallyV-shaped.

12. A structure according to claim .11 havingbeveled relatively sharp edges on thetsubstantially V-shaped end of the blade.

:13. Apparatus fortrestoring pulled threads in knitted fabric comprising :ashaft adapted to.be rotated onits :longitudinal axis a hub-fixedaonthe'sshaft and rotatable therewith, means supporting-said :shaftfor rotationtherein, a first pin projecting outwardlyfrom, and in eccentric relation tothe axis of, said hub, a second pin carried by said supp'ortin'g'means and extending in spaced substantially paralleltrelation to said hub and said first;pin, a relatively thin=and elongatedwork-engagingelement made from rigid'material .pivotally mounted onone tof-said pins and having ;a substantially longitudinally extending .slot therein looselypenetrated'lby the otherof said'pins whereby rotation: of the: hub transmitsreciprooatory movement to said element,'andsaid element having a'relativelysharp Work-engaging surface'on one end thereof disposed radially outwardly of said hub.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED i STATES PATENTS 2,668,428 Smith Feb. 9, 1954 2,712,743 :Susemihl July 12, 1955 2,713,783 =Zaneet' al. 'July 26, 1955 

